Shannon here: Jordyn Redwood shares insight into her real life romance. Comment or answer the question to enter the drawing for a copy of her latest Romantic Suspense, Taken Hostage. Deadline: Sept 30th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Jordyn:
Twenty Years
My husband and I will be celebrating twenty years of marriage in January. Can you believe that? Two decades of wedded . . . mostly bliss. We operate on a 90/10 rule. As long as we’re happy ninety percent of the time, we consider ourselves happily married. Personally, I don’t think it’s realistic to expect to be happily married one hundred percent of the time. Do you?
Before my husband and I were married, we took a marriage inventory and went over the results with our pastor. At the start of the session he says, “Never in my life have I ever had anyone score as high as you in one particular area. Nearly a perfect score!”
Of course, we were anxious to hear just what area we were so spectacularly awesome in. Romance? Family? Religion? Managing money? I could see my future husband practically polishing his nails on his shoulder for a perfect score in that category considering he’s an accountant.
Our nearly perfect score? It came in the reality of marriage category. I know—I can see you’re all green with jealously. Questions in this category? Can you change your spouse? Can children improve a difficult marriage? Can having more children solve your problems?
Looking back on our twenty years—I think this realistic view of marriage has served us well. We take our commitment, our vows, seriously. We know feelings can wax and wane. One day—my husband hangs my moon and stars. The next, I might want to put him on the porch with a “free to good home” sign, and I also know he feels this way about me sometimes. We knew children would be challenging and not perfectly bundled angels that would never do anything wrong.
One of the times I loved my spouse the most was when my job as a nurse was threatened. I was facing some uncertain times and there was a remote chance I might have had to give up the profession I loved. Not only did that hit at the very core of my being, but also was concerning to us financially. What would we do if I lost that income—perhaps never to be able to get it back? I was mentally a disaster.
This was his speech to me at the time. “We are still us and nothing is going to change that. We will still be together. We will still have our children and our home. We will figure this out, but the most important things will still be intact. I love you—that, too, will never change.”
Those words mirrored our nearly perfect score from that marriage inventory all those years earlier. Those words were reality, but said with so much love—so much love for me and what we were together.
Reality in marriage means you may not feel totally in love every day and that’s okay. Your spouse will mess up—in big and small things. Forgive them. Be gracious when they disappoint you because you will do the same at some point.
Also remember—sometimes it’s in the valleys that you will find the greatest love. I might even argue that’s where the greatest love exists.
About Jordyn: Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by night, suspense novelist by day. She
hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping authors write medically accurate fiction. Her first two medical thrillers, Proof and Poison,garnered starred reviews from Library Journal. Proof was shortlisted for the 2012 ForeWord Review’s BOTY Award, 2013 INSPY Award and the 2013 Carol Award. Poison shortlisted for the 2014 INSPY Award and the 2014 Selah Award. Fractured Memory was contracted through Love Inspired’s Blurb to Book Contest and finaled in theContemporary Romance Writers Stiletto Contest. In addition to her novels, she blogs regularly at Redwood’s Medical Edge and the WordServe Water Cooler. You can connect with Jordyn via her website, Facebook, Twitterand Pinterest and she loves to get e-mail from her readers at jordyn@jordynredwood.com.
About the book – Taken Hostage:
A Deadly Ransom
When neurosurgeon Regan Lockhart’s daughter is kidnapped, the abductors want to make a deal for the little girl’s life. If she wishes to ever see her child again, Regan must hand over the virus she uses in a radical cancer treatment. But bounty hunter Colby Waterson can’t let her trade the cure, which is his sister’s last hope. He’s already lost a wife and baby, and he won’t lose anyone else. But when a mistake leads both him and Regan into the hands of the bad guys, the kidnappers up their demands. Now Regan must create a biological weapon or her daughter dies. For Colby, no case has ever been this personal. He’ll need every skill he’s got, because only he can save both his sister and the woman he’s growing to care for.
Question for Readers: Share with me in the comments how either you have overcome adversity and or you and your spouse have overcome adversity and had a deeper love for each other on the other side.
Come back Sept 26th for Brenda S. Anderson!
My husband and I just celebrated 36 years married. We’ve had some tough times along the way but God, our families and friends have always been there when we needed some encouragement. Our love only grows stronger with each year!
Gail,
CONGRATULATIONS on 36 years. That is truly amazing.
no, sorry I haven’t
Love your work Jordyn both as an author and as a fellow nurse. Congrats on the new book. I cant wait to read it
Terri!
So good to see you here. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Thanks for the post and the reminder. We’ve gone through my husband’s grand mother’s death (she lived with us prior to her entering heaven) and some medical scares. Through the challenges, we learned to pray together more honestly and to be more transparent emotionally.
Jordyn Redwood is a new author to me and I really appreciate that she devotes her blog to helping other authors accurately depict the medical world since I’m a medical professional myself (though not a writer, just an avid reader).
Hi MH,
What part of the medical field do you work in?
This question doesn’t apply to me because I am single. Jordyn’s book sounds like it is a page turner!
Hi Donna,
The question is for singles, too ;). We all have adversity in our lives! How have you overcome difficult times?
I’ve overcome hard times by trusting and praying to God.
Victoria,
I definitely need to do more of that! Thanks for stopping by.
Reading and meditating on God’s Word is what gets me through difficult times. He promises to never fail or forsake us and that is worth clinging to.
Amy,
For sure. One of my favorite Bible verses.
I’ve been married 45 years. Our oldest daughter’s kidneys started to fail when she was 11 years old. She eventually went on dialysis, then I gave her one of my kidneys when she was 13. God was an ever-present comfort during that time. She is 41 now. and doing well. God’s grace is truly amazing every day!
Linda,
What an amazing story. I’m glad your daughter is doing so well!
We will soon be married 47 years (where have the years gone so quickly?). We have survived difficult time with our children & my husband’s stroke 15 years ago. We decided from the beginning that we were in this for good & having the Lord in our life has kept us from giving up even when everything seemed impossible.
Pamela,
CONGRATULATIONS on 47 years! That is truly amazing. I think having that attitude of “being in it for good” is very important.
Congratulations on nearly two decades of marriage. I’ve known many couples who have stuck together through thick and thin and I find that really inspiring. I think as long as you love one another and have patience and respect the rest of the good things will follow nicely.
Na,
Thank you! Literally, those years have sped by. Hard to believe we’ve been married for almost two decades but together for almost a quarter of a century! Patience is important– for sure.
We have had medical problems/surgeries through the years and those situations with elderly parents too, but with God’s help and assistance, we come through. Would love to read this book.
Thanks so much for stopping by Jacqueline!
Whenever I’m faced with adversity I go back to what works for me: introspection. Remembering what’s truly important in my life, journaling, and lots of self care.
Amanda,
Self care is definitely something nurses are not good at. Strange isn’t it? I’m trying to get better at this myself.
My husband and I have overcome adversity during my cancer battles. The first one I ended up in a coma and he held my hand for two days not knowing if I would live. This time the cancer came back and he has taken me to so many tests and on long drives to the surgeon and followups. Praise God I am doing well and our marriage is strong as ever and our faith and trust in God always grows.
Maryann,
Sounds like the two of you have been through a lot but definitely come out stronger on the other side. I’m glad to hear you and your marriage are doing well.
I have a winner! Amanda won the drawing. I appreciate Jordyn for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.